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E M P L O Y E R N E W S L E T T E R | A U G U S T 2 0 2 0
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Apprenticeship Boost funding is now live Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) update Graduate helps victims on journey of recovery Pay Equity enquiries now handled by MoH
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Welcome to your Careerforce August update
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Kia ora
I hope that things are going as well as can be for you and your teams as the fight against COVID-19 continues.
In this Skills for Good issue we look at the Apprenticeship Boost initiative recently announced by the Government. Apprenticeship Boost will support up to 36,000 first and second year apprentices per year, by providing a subsidy to employers.
This initiative is part of a wider apprenticeship support programme designed to keep apprentices connected to work, connected to training and connected to their communities while New Zealand recovers from the impact of COVID-19.
The article below gives you further information on Apprenticeship Boost, including how to apply.
Ngā mihi nui
Andrew Saunders General Manager, Employer Services
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Last week, we sent an email providing an update on our office access situation. With Auckland currently being at Level 3, and Level 2 for the rest of Aotearoa:
- All our Auckland staff are working from home for the period of the level 3 lockdown. Our Auckland office is closed.
- Our Wellington and Christchurch offices are accessible only by staff, and with no visitors allowed.
- Our field based team across the country (excluding Auckland) are limited to one field-visit per day, and subject to any worksite restrictions or peak body guidance.
- Regardless of location, all Careerforce staff are always available virtually, and can provide support via whatever channels work for you.
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Throughout COVID-19, we have been making decisions consistent with Government guidelines and recommendations, and will continue to do so.
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Apprenticeship Boost funding is now live
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Apprenticeship Boost is now live, and there has never really been a better time to either have staff completing an apprenticeship programme, or to consider staff commencing an apprenticeship programme:
- Careerforce apprenticeship programmes have been developed by the sector, for the sector. They are a fully supported programme, with extensive pastoral care provided through their journey.
- All enrolment fees are covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF) – see following story.
- You may be eligible to claim Apprenticeship Boost payments of $1000/mth for first year apprentices, and $500/mth for second year apprentices.
More information on Apprenticeship Boost can be found here, including how employers can apply for Apprenticeship Boost payments through MSD (for existing or new apprentices).
Careerforce have also recently introduced new activity requirements for apprentices, and these were earlier communicated to existing apprentices and their employers, and also reflected in an updated apprenticeship training agreement for new apprenticeship enrolments.
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Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF)
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The Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF), which became effective from 1 July, removes fees from most Careerforce programmes, through to December 2022. Further information can be found here, including what programmes are covered, and which now includes the Dementia LCP programme following recent confirmation from TEC.
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Free enrolment in cleaning and business programmes
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Disappointingly, our Cleaning and Business Leadership & Management programmes were not deemed eligible by TEC via the TTAF. However, we have made the decision to waive enrolment fees on these programmes through until 31 December 2020.
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Creating a career path in the aged care sector
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After a few years working in hospitality, Caitlin
Henderson decided to change paths heading towards a career in the aged care sector. She admits being close to her grandparents inspired her.
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“Since I was little, I’ve always wanted to do nursing. Before that though, I wanted to have a feel for what nursing would be like and wanted to get some experience,” shares Caitlin.
She applied to become a carer at Golden Age Rest Home in 2016. “When I got employed, formal learning wasn’t really what I needed at that stage. Being able to do the NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Level 3 on-the-job was a great way for me to continue learning and gain experience.”
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Two years later, Caitlin got offered another role within the rest home. “I covered for the usual Diversional Therapist for a week when she went away and my clinical manager at the time thought I would be a good candidate for the Apprenticeship in Diversional Therapy offered by Careerforce.”
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Jobs for Good - connecting essential people with essential roles
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Since its launch in July, the Jobs for Good web page has received over 6,000 visits, and over 100 vacancies have been listed!
Jobs for Good is a great opportunity for you to connect with job seekers and school leavers that are looking for their next opportunity.
We encourage you to share this with your HR teams. It’s simple and free to list vacancies - post your job vacancies here
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Āwhina app puts important information in the hands of health workers
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If you work in the health sector, using the Ministry of Health's Āwhina app will ensure you and your teams receive critical Ministry of Health notifications about changes to COVID-19 information. Āwhina, currently used by more than 11,000 people, lets you access information from the Ministry of Health and other trusted sources on your mobile device. You can save content in the app to give you quick
access to it again later.
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Āwhina is free to download on your phone or tablet from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. For more information visit Āwhina app.
The Ministry developed the app with feedback from people working in the health sector, and will continue to review and improve its functionality based on feedback. If there is content you’d like to see in Āwhina, they would like to hear from you, please email: Awhina.info@health.govt.nz.
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Win a morning tea worth $100 for your team
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Simply complete three questions correctly to be in the draw to win. The quiz closes on 10 September 2020. To enter, follow the link below:
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Congratulations to Jenny Prentice from Wharekaka Rest Home in Martinborough who won a morning tea from the last issue.
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Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) update
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We
continue to work collaboratively with Government agencies as the reforms are rolled out. Recent developments and highlights include:
- Workforce Development Councils (WDC) – WDCs are expected to be operational by mid-2021, with WDC Design and reference groups continuing to meet. WDCs will have responsibility for setting skill standards, developing qualifications, and helping to shape the curriculum of vocational education.
- The interim Establishment Board (iEB) for the Health, Community and Social Services WDC was earlier announced, and more information can be found here on their priorities, including establishing the WDC as a legal entity through an Order in Council. Gill Genet, our General Manager for Business Development, was appointed to the Health, Community and Social Services WDC iEB.
- The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) earlier confirmed their CEO (Stephen Town), and also that Hamilton will be their head office location. They have also subsequently confirmed the appointment of six Deputy Chief Executives (DCE), including Warwick Quinn as DCE Employer Journeys. Warwick is currently Chief Executive at BCITO.
As we have frequently emphasised, these reforms amount to a generational change in vocational education, and are being implemented over a long period of time. For Careerforce, our focus remains on business as usual, and continuing to support employers with their immediate workforce
development requirements. Current expectations remain that the full transition to the new system will not be completed until December 2022.
Go here for regular RoVE updates, or here for more information on RoVE.
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Did
you know that you don’t need to have a login to get some insight into our online learning and assessment platform, Aka Toi?
Go to Aka Toi and look at a section headed ‘Why Aka Toi?’
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This section is divided into two perspectives - Trainees and Assessors. Here there are:
So, if you’re curious, we encourage you to have a read, have a look, have a play!
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Diploma graduate helps victims on journey of recovery
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“It is very rewarding coming into people’s darkest moments and just helping them gain control.”
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Deborah Du Toit is one of those ordinary people who make an extraordinary difference.
As a victim support worker, Deborah has given strength to people during some of the most difficult times in recent history: the Christchurch terror attacks,
the Whakaari/White Island eruption, and now the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every day, Deborah adds to her wealth of knowledge by learning about different victim experiences.
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She has also recently completed the NZ Diploma in Health and Wellbeing, with support from her employer, Victim Support, and Careerforce.
South African born Deborah is no stranger to helping others. She and her husband were involved in social uplift programmes back in Cape Town. In New Zealand, she dedicated her spare time to volunteering for many years before joining Victim Support full-time two years ago.
“At Victim Support, we come along-side people who are victims of crime and trauma and walk the journey of recovery with them,” says Deborah. “The journey is a process which includes crisis support, rebuilding and empowerment and then advocacy and promotion of self. At the end of the journey, hopefully people feel they have gained control.
“It is very rewarding coming into people’s darkest moments and just helping them gain control. For people who are victims of
crime, it might be the first time they have experienced this kind of incident and they just don’t know what to do.”
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Coaching trainees to plan their written assessment answers
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How many times have you heard a trainee say, “I know this, it’s all in my head. I just can’t put it down on paper.” Anxiety around spelling is usually a leading factor, but often it’s just that they don’t know where to start. With a simple strategy for planning and composing what they want to say, gives them that starting point.
Have a look online at BBC Skillswise.
This is an adult learning website that includes printable resources for developing English reading, writing, speaking, listening and maths skills.
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In the Writing: Planning your writing section,
Skillswise shows you how to plan and compose a piece of writing using sticky notes, mind maps, flow charts or lists – whatever techniques you prefer. All of them start with just jotting down ideas. Getting the writer to think about what their audience (the assessor) wants of them. Once they have all the relevant ideas down, they can then arrange them in an order they think makes sense. From there, they form sentences out of each idea in their order. This is a draft. There are other sections on how to build paragraphs, edit and proofread.
This is also a great website if you are looking for ideas to help your trainees build their reading and writing (typing) skills to engage successfully in online learning. There is a section on teaching yourself keyboard skills.
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Qualification Review update
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As the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) appointed qualification developer for Health & Wellbeing qualifications, we are undergoing a major review of a number of qualifications. This is a requirement of the NZQA for all qualifications listed within the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), but is also good practice to ensure they remain fit for purpose.
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Qualification Review - PCPA L4 – Seeking feedback through consultation We are currently seeking feedback through consultation. We will then communicate our recommendation out to all stakeholders. Qualification Review - Social & Community L4 – Attestation gathering Thank you to everyone who has contributed during the consultation process. We are pleased to share the analysis of the findings
and recommendations here: The findings showed a strong level of agreement with all aspects of the qualifications. However, the qualification required some minor updating to address the need to clarify the employment destination of graduates between the strands, reflect the importance of the skills and cultural competency to respectfully engage with Māori and minor language changes and updates. More information available on the website here: Qualification Review - Rehab L4 – On hold Further work on this review is on hold until the other qualifications that are part of the Health & Wellbeing suite have caught up, so that they can be submitted to NZQA together. Qualification Review - Skills for Living L1 – Gathering attestation We
are pleased to share the recommendations and are seeking attestations of support. Please visit the Careerforce website for more information. Qualification Review - Public Health
L5 – Awaiting feedback from NZQA The reviewed qualification was submitted to NZQA on 12 May and an RFI has been responded to on 1 July. Careerforce are now awaiting any additional feedback or final approval from NZQA.
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Industry Training Graduations
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The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) in partnership
with district councils run Industry Training Graduations to recognise the achievements of local graduates of industry training and apprenticeships. Check out which councils are planning graduation events from October.
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Pay Equity enquiries now handled by the Ministry of Health
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As no further qualification equivalency assessments are
being completed, Careerforce no longer has an active role in the pay equity settlement. Effective from Monday 3 August, the Ministry of Health assumed responsibility for responding to all pay equity enquiries, including those relating to qualification equivalency.
The Ministry of Health now hosts all pay equity information on their website, including details on qualification equivalencies. For any future pay equity enquiries, please contact the Ministry of Health, via the following channels:
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Employees can still achieve pay equity via qualifications While no new qualifications are being accepted for equivalency assessment, care and support workers
can still qualify for pay equity via their qualifications. Your employees can:
Please advise your staff of their options.
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Find out more about:
- Careerforce Qualification Programmes >> More
- Gateway and Vocational Pathways
>>More
- How to contact your local Careerforce Workplace Advisor >>More
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Please share with your colleagues We hope you're enjoying Skills for Good, and encourage you to share with your colleagues. We also welcome your feedback. Contact us.
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